It was just a few weeks ago that we answered the question of why yes, you do need to winterize your sprinkler system. Now we want to turn our attention to another important question we hear from homeowners: When should I winterize my sprinkler system?

As is the case with other lawn and landscape maintenance, timing is important when it comes to winterizing irrigation systems. We’re here to help steer you down the right path.

How You Know It’s Time to Winterize Your Sprinkler System

While the exact timeline for winterizing your sprinkler system can vary based on conditions, irrigation systems should always be drained before the first freeze or whenever temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, this happens in late October in Cleveland, Ohio — but the first freeze has also been known to occur as early as the end of September or as late as the end of November.

The reason it’s critical to winterize sprinkler systems before the first freeze is that water trapped inside the system (from the sprinkler heads to the piping systems) will freeze and expand when exposed to these conditions. The result is pressure and stress that can damage portions of the sprinkler system and lead to costly repairs — or even the need to replace the system altogether.

Green Impressions Helps Keep You on Schedule

With years of experience maintaining (and installing) sprinkler systems, Green Impressions knows how to keep homeowners on schedule with maintenance — winterization included. As a member of our Irrigation Club, we’ll drain your sprinkler system and blow out any excess water before the first freeze, while preparing your backflow and controller for the winter months.

Winterizing your sprinkler system is just one of several maintenance steps we take to preserve your investment:

• In the spring, we’ll activate your water valves and test individual zones to ensure smooth operation throughout the irrigation system
• In the spring, we’ll also have an inspector come out to inspect and test your backflow to confirm it can prevent back-siphonage
• During the summer months, we’ll perform two check-ups where we’ll adjust the controller times and inspect the sprinkler system to verify all zones and heads perform as intended

Interested in joining the Green Impressions Irrigation Club? Simply fill out the form here and we’ll be in touch soon.